Lasting Powers of Attorney Solicitors
Unfortunately, none of us can guarantee that we will remain physically and mentally capable for the rest of our lives. An incapacitating illness or accident could hit any of us without warning, at any time. And of course, the older we get, the more likely this is to happen. Have you ever wondered what would happen if you were unable to look after your property and affairs yourself? How would your family cope?
Few people realise that due to increasingly complex data protection legislation, no one else is usually allowed to deal with your assets and other matters.
The Solution
By making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) now, you can arrange to avoid leaving problems for those who would have to manage your affairs if you were unable to do so yourself. An LPA allows you to appoint one or more people whom you trust, together or separately, to act on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so yourself. If you do not have an LPA, it may be that an application has to be made to the Court of Protection for a Deputy to be appointed and this is a complex, costly and time-consuming process.
By making an LPA you do not lose any control whatsoever over your affairs. You are merely taking a prudent step towards safeguarding against future problems for your loved ones and providing yourself with peace of mind. It also doesn’t have to be as costly as you might think and in most cases we will provide you with a fixed quote at the outset.
Please call 0113 284 5000 or e-mail a member of the probate & estate administration team for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions about LPA
This is a document in which you appoint one or more people to act on your behalf in the event that you lose the ability to manage your property and affairs for yourself. Having a Lasting Power of Attorney in place gives you peace of mind, knowing that should you suddenly have an accident or become seriously ill that close family members or friends would be authorised to assist in sorting out your affairs.
No. Attorneys are governed by the Mental Health Act which says that attorneys must abide by your decisions until you are clearly unable to make them for yourself at all. Attorneys must always act in your best interests. Having said that, you should only appoint someone you trust.
Yes. But you need to be aware that if you make a small error, e.g. a wrong date in a 14 page form, the Office of the Public Guardian may retain your Court fee of £110.00 and you will almost certainly have to re-submit the paperwork. In the unlikely event that we were to prepare this for you and got it wrong we would pay the cost of correcting things. In addition, we can answer any questions you may have in relation to powers of attorney.
